THE TOWN OF VILJANDI

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP80-00810A005100720003-6
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: C
• Document Page Count: 7
• Document Creation Date: December 20, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 17, 2007
• Sequence Number: 3
• Publication Date: November 10, 1954
• Content Type: REPORT

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CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY
INFORMATION REPORT
COUNTRY USSR (Estonian SSR)
SUBJECT The Town of Viljandi
This material contains Information affecting the Na-
tional Defense of the United States within the mean-
ing of the Espionage Laws, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793
and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in
any manner to an unauthorized person is prohibited
by law.
REPORT
DATE DISTR. 10 November 1951, 17
NO. OF PAGES
25X1
REQUIREMENT NO. RD
REFERENCES
THE SOURCE EVALUATIONS IN THIS REPORT ARE DEFINITIVE.
THE APPRAISAL OF CONTENT IS TENTATIVE.
(FOR KEY SEE REVERSE)
Population
1. In addition to the native Estonians, there are Estonians from other parts of
the Soviet Union living in Viljandi. These latter groups are
active in the militia, the isaolkom (executive cormli.ttee), the voyenkomat
(military coim issariat), the promkombinat, and the cooperatives. A certain
cu:ioiunit of antagonism toward the newcomers exists, but it is not shown openly.
i _.r Damiii e
?. (lit little war damage there was in the town was caused by air raids. Parks
were established on the sites of some of the destroyed buildings.
"Wien the trains arrive from Tallinn and Abja in the afternoon, '-saffic is
Lo:vy. It includes pedestrians, automobiles, trucks, horsecarts, and bicycles.
On market days from 0500 to 0600 hours, there is also considerable activity
when the kolldhozniki bring their products into town. There is also some acti-
vity around the station and on the streets at 0200 hours, when the last trains
arrive. Otherwise, there is little traffic on the streets, especially at
n.i;gh t .
1 uildin~.s
'Tao-story wooden houses predominate. There are few brick and limestone buildings.
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5.
Summer Resort
The Uueveski summer resort on the shore of Uueveski Lake is neglected and
rundown. In June 1952, the basins were dried up, the meadows were over-
grown, the boat piers and diving tower had not been set up, and the grounds
of the beach cafe were in disorder.
Weather
6. The first frost is in November, and the first snow is in December. The
average winter temperature is 100 to 150 C. Spring starts at the end of March
or the beginning of April. The summer of 1952 was very rainy; crops and hay
were seriously damaged. Until April 1953, there had been little rain. There
was little fog, usually only morning mist.
Industry
7. There are only small factories, including a linen weaving factory, a match
factory, a sawmill, a conserve plant, and a distillery.
Labor
8. Enterprises are free to hire anyone who, according to his documents, is avail-
able for work. A worker can change jobs with the approval, of the director
of the enterprise. It is not advisable to change jobs too often, because the
authorities do not favor frequent changes. Railroad employees have difficulty in
changing jobs, presumably because there are restrictions against it.
Market
9. The market hours are usually from 0600 until 1000 or 1100 hours or until all
the products are sold. Individuals come by train, bicycle, or foot from as
far as 20-30 kilometers to sell their products. Kolkhozy send their agri-
cultural products by trucks or horsecarts. Although there are restaurants
near the market, most of the farmers bring their lunch with them to save money.
To sell in the market, a farmer must have a certificate proving that he has
delivered his quota to the State. All vendors must pay a fee of at least one
ruble to the market superintendent. The fee is based on the quantity of pro-
duce being sold.
Restaurants
10. The kiosks at the railroad station are open until 0200 hours. Restaurants and
at least one coffeehouse are open until midnight.
Public Utilities
11. The electric voltage is 220 and 360, probably AC. There is a city water system,
and good quality water is obtained from Viljandi Lake. There is adequate sewage
canalization.
Telephone
12: For a small fee, a person can use any telephone available for local calls. It
is difficult to make long distance calls even from the post office.
Radio
13. Loudspeakers are.'installed in parks, squares, and other public places. Although
there are no regulations prohibiting listening to foreign broadcasts, people
have been detained for discussing foreign broadcasts or passing on information,
from them. Many people who own radios listen to foreign broadcasts despite
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widespread jamming.
Publications
14. A newspaper is published in Viljanda., but source does not know the name. The
Tallinn newspapers, Rahva HIfltl (Voice of the People) and Uus Elu (New Life),
are available in Viljandi; the price is 20 kopeks. The periodicals Pioneer,
Eesti Naine, Kroko , Kehakultuur, and probably Kommunist are on sale.
Krokod' costs 3.5 rubles per copy. Nearly everyone buys a newspaper, not to
read, but to use as wrapping paper, toilet paper, and cigarette paper.
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Legend tol Sketch of Viliandi
1. Lumber storage yard.
2. Railroad station: A two-story stuccoed building of stone or brick. The
station was almost completely destroyed during the war, and the new one
was completed in the fall of 1952. A cement platform was laid in Nay 1953.
3. Railroad storage building: A long stone structure.
4. Bus stop for the bus running from the town to the railroad station.
5. Match factory: A long stone structure.
6. Airfield.: O*ergrown with grass. No air activity was observed.
7. I?ilitary barracks: Ten or more one-story wooden buildings located on the
airfield. The barracks were built by the Soviets and were probably
occupied by infantry units,
E. Ammunition warehouses: Half underground, surrounded by an earth embankment.
The warehouses formerly belonged to the Estonian Army but were taken over
by the Soviets.
9. Hay barn: A large wooden building.
10. War memorial of stone built by the Soviets.
11. Suspension bridge of iron and wood which crosses a deep valley.
12. Ruins of an old castle.
13. Old well on the castle grounds.
14. Stone cellar: Called Villu Cellar after an Estonian national hero of the
Middle Ages.
15. Driving school: Two-story white building.
16. Domupravleniye (housing administration): A one-story wooden building.
17. Park: Formerly called Laidoneri Park. It contains a fountain with a
statue of a boy holding a fish in his lap. Before the war, there were
fish in the fountain,but, since then, there has been only muddy water.
18. Elementary school: A two-story building.
19. Water tower: A high brick building shaped like a club (sic).
20. Ispolkom office of Viljandi Rayon: A two-story white building with a
watchtower.
21. Lawn tennis court.
22. Stadium.
23. Two-story building: Use unknown.
24. Wooden pier for boats.
25. Swimming pier.
26. Beach cafe: A two-story wooden building.
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27. Two-story building: Fbrmerly a girls' school.
23. School playground and park.
29. Secondary school: A two-story building.
30. Basins.
31. Soviet military cemetery.
32. Small canning plant.
33. Linen weaving factory: A two-story building.
34. Post office: A two-story white stone building.
35. Restaurant: A two-story building.
36. DKht Movie Theater: Probably a two-story building.
37. Children's park.
3E.? Viljandi vovenkomat: A two-story brick building.
39.. Artificial teeth section of the dental laboratory: A two-story building.
40. Hospital: A two-story building.
41. Maternity clinics A two-story building.
42. A new movie theater: A one-story building.
43. Jeweler's shoe: A two-story building.
44. X-ray laboratory: A two-story building.
45. Tavern for farmers: A one-story wooden building.
46. Shop for ready-made clothes and sport articles.
47 and 48. Parks on the sites of ruins.
49. A five-story building containing, on the ground floor, shops and a cafe
and, on the upper floors, the isuoollkom_ office of the town of Viljandi.
The Eve Restaurant was formerly located on the second floor.
50. A one-story building which formerly housed the Gloria Movie Theater, which
is probably no longer in existence.
51. Approximate location of the labor recruitment bureaus A two-story building.
52. Watch repair shop: A one-story wooden building.
53. Hospital: A two-story building.
54. Ruins of the Ugala Theater.
55. Cooperative: On the second floor is a restaurant. This building formerly
housed the Estonian ConsumerssAssociation. The brick building is two or
three stories high.
56. Kiosks where cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, and sandwiches are sold.
There is a taxi stand in front of the kiosks.
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57. Viljandi church; A red brick building. A memorial to Captain.Irv,. an
Estonian war hero, which stood before the church, was destroyed by the
Soviets in 1941.
58. Ruins of the bank and post office; The memorial to the Estonian War
of Independence, which stood before this building, was destroyed.by
the Soviets after the war.
59. Bus stop.
60. School house; Probably a secondary school, a three-story building.
61. Militia headquarters; A two-story building.
62. Park; Formerly called the Police Park. The present name is unknown.
63. Tannery; A two-story wooden building.
64. Cemetery.
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